‘King of the Hill' Showrunner on Writing Hank Hill for a Different Era

King of the Hill Boss on Hulu's No F-Bombs, Recasting, Animation Criticisms

Saladin K. Patterson talks to The Hollywood Reporter about how he kept the revival's sense of humor and characters true to the original, and writing for a Disney-owned streamer about a present-day Texas community. 

hollywoodreporter.com

‘King of the Hill’ is back for season 14 on Hulu, and showrunner Saladin K. Patterson’s mission is to keep Hank Hill’s voice as authentic and hilarious as ever—even while updating the comedy for a modern, Disney-owned streamer. After a ten-year stint in Saudi Arabia (yep, that’s where Hank’s been), Patterson leans into the small-town Texas vibe and familiar characters, making sure nothing feels too “rebooty.”

The idea to revive Arlen, Texas, actually started at San Francisco Sketch Fest 2017 when creators Mike Judge and Greg Daniels dusted off an old episode for a live read. Since then, Patterson’s been tackling the big “why now?” question, blending original warmth and humor with today’s sensibilities to prove this propane-loving dad still has plenty of fuel left in the tank.